Moving day arrives. You thought you were ready. But now you’re staring at a mountain of stuff that somehow needs to fit into boxes you don’t have. Your friends who promised to help aren’t answering their phones. And you just realized the elevator in your new building is broken.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
Apartment moving is one of those things that seems simple until you’re actually doing it. Then everything that can go wrong usually does. The good news is that most moving disasters are completely avoidable. People just keep making the same mistakes over and over.
Starting Too Late
This is probably the biggest one. People underestimate how long packing takes. They think they’ll knock it out the night before. Then 2 AM rolls around and they’re still wrapping dishes while surrounded by chaos.
Packing takes about three times longer than most people expect. A one-bedroom apartment needs at least a week of evening packing sessions. A bigger place needs more.
Start early. Like, way earlier than you think you need to. Your future self will thank you.
Not Decluttering First
Why pack stuff you don’t want? Every box you move costs time and energy. Every item takes up space in the truck. Moving is the perfect excuse to get rid of things you don’t use anymore.
Before packing, go through each room and sort items into:
- Keep and pack
- Donate or sell
- Throw away
- Give to friends or family
The average American home contains over 300,000 items. Even apartments accumulate way more stuff than people realize. Cutting down before you pack makes the apartment moving faster and cheaper.
Ignoring Building Rules
Apartments have rules about moving. Some require elevator reservations. Others need advance notice for loading zones. Many charge fees if you don’t book properly.
Mistakes with building logistics include:
- Not reserving the service elevator
- Blocking hallways without permission
- Moving during restricted hours
- Forgetting to get parking permits for the truck
- Leaving common areas dirty
Check with management at both buildings well before moving day. Some buildings require 30 days notice for move-ins. Missing these requirements can delay your entire move or cost you extra fees.
Using the Wrong Boxes
Those free boxes from the liquor store seem like a good idea. They’re not. They’re different sizes, often weak, and don’t stack well. Books go in huge boxes that become impossible to lift. Fragile items go in flimsy containers that are crushed.
Proper packing materials make a real difference:
- Small boxes for heavy items like books
- Medium boxes for kitchen items and clothing
- Large boxes for lightweight things like bedding
- Wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes
- Dish packs for fragile items
Using uniform box sizes makes loading the truck much easier. Everything stacks neatly and nothing gets crushed.
Skipping the Essentials Box
You arrive at your new place exhausted. All you want is to shower and sleep. But your toiletries are buried in some random box. Your sheets are who knows where. The toilet paper is packed with kitchen stuff for some reason.
Pack an essentials box that stays with you. Not on the truck. With you. Include things like:
- Toiletries and medications
- Phone chargers
- Change of clothes
- Basic cleaning supplies
- Toilet paper and paper towels
- Snacks and water bottles
- Important documents
This one box saves so much frustration on that first night.
Trusting Unreliable Help
Friends mean well. They really do. But relying on them for apartment moving is risky. Someone always bails. Someone shows up late. Someone has a bad back they forgot to mention. Studies show that moves involving only friends and family take 40% longer than professional moves. And the injury rate is much higher because people don’t know proper lifting techniques.
If you do use friends, have backup plans. And maybe spring for pizza and beer as a thank you.
Not Measuring Furniture
That couch fit perfectly in your old living room. But will it fit through your new apartment door? Down the narrow hallway? Around that tight corner by the stairs?
Measure everything before moving day:
- Doorway widths at both locations
- Hallway dimensions
- Stairwell turns and landings
- Elevator interior size
- Large furniture dimensions
One survey found that 15% of movers had to leave furniture behind because it wouldn’t fit. Measuring ahead prevents that expensive surprise.
Forgetting to Update Your Address
In the chaos of apartment moving, administrative stuff gets forgotten. Then important mail goes to your old place. Packages get lost. Bills go unpaid because you never got them.
Update your address with:
- USPS for mail forwarding
- Banks and credit card companies
- Insurance providers
- Employer and payroll
- Subscription services
- DMV for license and registration
- Doctors and dentists
Do this at least two weeks before you move. Some changes take time to process.
Trying to Do Everything Yourself
Pride is expensive. Hiring professional movers costs money upfront but saves in other ways. Less damage to furniture. Fewer injuries. Way less stress. And honestly, faster completion.
Apartment moving involves tight spaces, multiple floors, and heavy lifting. Professionals deal with this every day. They know the tricks. They have the equipment. They get it done right.
At The Rite Move, we handle apartment moves all the time. We know the challenges. We’ve seen what happens when people try to do it themselves. The scratched floors. The broken furniture. The back pain that lasts for weeks.
Your time and your body are worth something. So is your sanity.
Stop dreading moving day. Stop imagining everything that could go wrong. Reach out to The Rite Move and let’s make your next apartment move the smoothest one you’ve ever had.
